Smartphones are advancing more and more each year. Just a decade ago, no one could imagine that phones could ever incorporate 3rd party applications and video chat. Smartphone users have definitely heard of speech to text applications but Cornell University Researchers decided to take it all a step further by developing a system where deaf people could communicate through phone via sign language. The technology for such a device was created four years ago by Mobile ASL (American Sign Language) and a prototype wasn’t created until last year, but they got it done, and it is now being used on 25 deaf people in Seattle, Washington.

Issues like battery life and video conferencing came into effect when the researchers began working on the device, but they managed to work around it and create a base which is the current prototype being implemented. The researchers also created video compression software that could deliver video at approximately 10 frames per second so it doesn’t overpower standard 2G networks. This would be the next step in this research project, to make this “video sign language” ship with almost every smartphone. The concept and prototype proves to us that mobile phones have taken a huge step forward and they will continue to do so, until people with disabilities can use the same technology we use.

(Via NewLaunches)